Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager
scientific research instrument
Also known as: HMI
Quick Summary
Observe a dopplergram showing the velocity of solar material in the photosphere captured by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager
A dopplergram taken by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite, showing the velocity of solar material in the photosphere on the line of sight, March 29, 2010. White pixels are moving away from the camera, and black pixels are moving toward the camera.
The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) is an instrument aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite, launched in 2010 to study the Sun. The HMI specifically investigates changes in the Sun's magnetic field by capturing images of the Sun in polarized light every 50 seconds. This allows scientists to observe solar activity and its effects on space weather. Helioseismology, a related field, uses wave frequencies to map the Sun's internal structure, similar to how seismology studies Earth's interior.12
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